manchester



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELI H. HOVVARI) AND ALBERTA J. MANCHESTER, 0F PROVIDENCE, R. I.

SPONGE-CUP.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 58,829, dated October 16, 1866.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, ELI H. HOWARD and ALBERT J. MANCHESTER, both of the city and county of Providence, in the State of Rhode Island, have invented a new and useful Iniproved Sponge-Cup and we do hereby declare that the following specitication, taken in connection with the drawings making a part of the saine, is a full7 clear, and exact description thereof.

Figure l is a top view. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 00 y ot' Fig. l. Fig. 3 is an elevation et' the stopper.

The object or' our invention is to furnish a cup for holding a sponge, so constructed that while the sponge is permitted to remain dry when not required for use a supply of water shall be at hand with which it can be sufficiently nioistened at pleasure.

rlhe article is especially designed for use by scholars at their desks in schools with a View to prevent one of the causes of confusion and disorder which is unavoidable in a school where the scholars have the excuse during the hours of study for leaving their seats for any purpose not belonging to the routine of exercises.

In the drawings, Fig. 2 represents the cup in section. It may be madein any forni which will be convenient, and in this instance is circular. The sides of the cup are made with double walls a b, which are united to the top and bottom ot the cu p, so as form an annular reservoir, B. Through the inner wall, at any convenient point near the bottom, is made a small aperture, c, which connects the reservoir B with the central space, orcu p proper', in which the sponge C is intended to be kept.

D, Fig. l, is an opening-leading into the reservoir for convenience in filling the latter with water. It is intended to be closed by the cork stopper E, Fig. 3, having a vent, (I, through its axis, which is controlled by the screw-cap e, provided with a packing F, as shown.

The annular space B can be readily lled with water through the opening'D, the end of the iinger of the left hand being placed over the small aperture c during the operation to prevent it from escaping from the reservoir until the stopper E, Fig. 3, can be introduced, as shown in Fig. 2, when the aperture c can be uncovered and the water will be held in the reservoir by the pressure ot' the external atmosphere.

The sponge is now placed in the cup, as shown in Fig. 2, and if it is required to be inoistened it can be readily done to the extent necessary by simply turning the screw-cap e, which covers the vent d, so as to admit a portion of air into the reservoir, whereupon a corresponding volume of water will be discharged into the cup to be absorbed by the sponge.

That we clailn as our invention, and desire vto secure by Let-ters Patent, is-

Asponge-dish constructed substantially as herein described.

ELI H. HOVARD. ALBERT J. MANCHESTER. Wlitnesses WALTER B. VINCENT, GEORGE B. BnRRows. 

